Terminal connecter for electric conductors



June 24; 1930. c. T. NIETMAN 1,767,808

TERMINAL CONNECTER FQR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS Filed June 8, 1928 IN V ENTOR.

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' ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1930 I PATENT OFFICE CHARLES '1.NIE'IMAIN', OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK CONNEC'IER FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORSApplication filed June s, 1928. Serial No. 283,775.

This invention relates to improvements in terminal connecters forcoupling electric conductors to binding posts or other stationaryterminals of electrical devices; and

6 the invention has reference, more particularly, to improvements interminal connecters for coupling electric conductors to ignitionspark-plugs of internal combustion engines and for similar purposes.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a simple andeasily manipulated convertible or interchangeable terminal connecterwhich may be readily adapted at will for either lateral or axialconnection with external stationary terminal portions of ignitionspark-plugs of various kinds.

The invention has for a further object to provide a simple convertibleterminal connectereof comparatively low cost, and yet Q of a stron neatand durable construction.

Other 0 jects of thisinvention, not at .this time'more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a top or plan view of the novel convertible orinterchangeable terminal connecter made according to and embodying theprinci les of this invention;.Figure 2 is a side e evation of the same;Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same with a detachable part thereofremoved to convert the same for axial connection with a spark-plugterminal; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the novel convertible terminal connecter arranged forlateral connection with the stationary terminal fora spark-plug;andFigure 6 is asimilar view showing the terminal connecter arranged foraxial connection with the stationary terminal of a spark-plug; a v

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed viewi'to indicate corresponding parts Referring now to saiddrawin s, the reference character 6 indicates an e ectric conductorhaving a suitable external covering orsheath of insulation'7. The novelconvertible terminal connecter is secured in fixedly attached relationto the end of said insulated conductor 6-7. To this end I provide ametallic cap or ferrule 8 having 5 a closed end 9. The insulation 7 isremovedfrom the extremity-of the conductor 6, and the latter is thussufficiently bared to make contact with the metallic cap or ferrule 8when the end of the insulated conductor 67 is inserted within thelatter. The marginal portions of the open end of said metallic cap orferrule 8 are provided with inwardly dlrected gripping ortions 10 whichare imbedded in the insu ation 7 to thereby firmly and securely fastenthe cap orferrule 8 inoperative connected relation to the insulatedconductor.

The terminal connecter device comprises an inner metallic end cap 11having a closed end 12 arranged back to back' with said cap or ferrule8. Telescopically fitted into said inner metallic end cap 11 is ametallic cylindrical body member 13 having an inner end wall 14 abuttingthe end 12 of said end cap 11. The parts. thus assembled togetheraresecured in the assembled relation by a rivet 15 or other suitablefastenim means extended through or connected-with the abutting walls 9,12 and 14, whereby both mechanical connection and interrelatedelectrical contact isestablished between the parts. The cylindrical bodyportion of the member 13 is provided, on at least one side thereof,witha longitudinal split or divi- 'sion 16 extending rearwardlytherethrough from the open outer end thereof, whereby 'the said openouter end will, under properly applied pressure, yieldably expand orcontract for urposes to be subsequently set forth. Said cylindrical bodymember 13 is provided, adjacent to its outer open end, with anindented'annular groove forming an external seat 17 and an internalengaging rib 17'. t

- The reference character 18 indicates a detachable metallic thimblehaving a closed outer end 19. This thimble 18 is provided inits sidewalls with an internally extending annular bead. or rib 20. The thimble18 is adapted to telescopically engage over the free end of saidcylindrical body member 13, and to be detachably interlocked therewithby the engagement of its bead or rib 20 in the annular seat 17 of saidbody member 13, as shown more particularly in Figure 4, the split bodmember 13 yielding to the passage of sai head or rim thereover and intoseated relation to the external seat 17 thereof. Secured to the exteriorside of the end wall 19 of said thimble 18 is the base 21 oflongitudinally projecting bifur cated contact clip 22, which may befixed to the thimble by a fastening rivet 23 or by any other suitablefastening means.

The novel terminal connecter of this invention and made substantially asabove described is easily and quickly convertible at will forcooperation with the stationary terminals of ignition spark-plugs,whether the same are provided with the threaded post and nut style ofstationary terminal or the axial annularly grooved plug or post type ofstationary terminal.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, I have shown therein the upperend of an ignition spark-plug having as its stationary contact terminalthe upwardly projecting threaded post 24 upon which is screwed the nut25, the latter usually having a neck portion of reduced diameter. Inapplying the novel terminal connecter device of this invention to aspark-plug of this type, the

thimble 18 is mounted in. operative oonnection upon and to the splitbody member 13, thus operatively. presenting the bifurcated contact clip22 as a means for coupling the terminal connecter device with thesparkplug. To this end said bifurcated contact clip is sprung over andaround and so as to straddle the neck-portion of the nut 25 of thestationary contact terminal of the sparkplug thereby making a circuitcompleting connection between the latter and the conductor 6.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, I have shown therein the upperend portion of an ignition spark-plug having a stationary contactterminal in the form of an upwardly projecting axial plug or post 26having adj acent to its free end an annular channel or groove forming areceiving seat 27. In converting the novel terminal connecter device foroperative connection with a spark-plug of the type just described, thethimble 18 is removed from the split body member .13, leaving the openouter end of the latter free. The said open outer end of said split bodymember 13 is axially aligned with the plug or post 26 so as totelescopically engage over the same; said split body member 13 willyield laterally or expand when so applied to permit the internalengaging rib 17 to ride over the end of the plug or post 26 and thenspring into the receiving seat 27 of the latter,

thus making the desired electrical and me chanical engagement with thestationary terminal contact of the spark-plug.

From the above description it will be obvious that by a very simple andeasily manipulated construction I have provided. a terminal connecterdevice for electric conductors that may be quickly converted forselective use with different kinds of fixed or stationary terminalcontacts. While my novel terminal connecter device is of especialadvantage in use with ignition sparkplugs, it will nevertheless be wellunderstood that it may be used with various other electrical devicesequipped to receive its engagement in one way or another.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the details of constructionof my novel terminal connecter device is above described and as shown inthe accompanying drawings, consequently said description and showing isto be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense within the scopeof the herefollowing claims. 7

1. A convertible terminal conductor for the purposes described,comprising a tubular split body having means comprising a pair ofattached caps arranged back to back at one end to connect an electricconductor therewith, said body having an open free end, a bifurcatedcontact clip, and means for detachably connecting said contact clip withsaid open free end of said body. 2. A convertible terminal conductor forthe purposes described, comprising a tubular split body having a closingcap at one end and an electric conductor cap arranged back to back andattached to said closing caps to connect an electric conductortherewith, said tubular body having a means adjacent its open free endadapted to provide an internal male holding member for attaching saidbody directly to a terminal post and an external female holding member,a bifurcated contact clip, and means for detachably connecting saidcontact clip with said open free end of said body, said latter meanscomprising a thimble to which said contact clip is secured, said thimblehaving a rearward open end to slide over said free open end of saidbody, and an internal bead in the walls of said thimble receivable insaid external female-holding member of said body tohold said thimble andbody in engaged relation.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 11th day of April, 1928.

CHARLES T. NIETMAN.

